In order to be a Core Team Member, a MCLC member must meet all of the standards for their specific profession in addition to the General Requirements described in the MCLC's Membership Standards for Collaborative Practitioners. These requirements are:

 

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR COLLABORATIVE ATTORNEY (“CA”):

The following represent Professional Standards for a CA within the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council, in order to practice as an attorney in the Collaborative process:
 
A. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: The CA must be currently licensed as a lawyer in good standing in each 
jurisdiction in which he or she is licensed to practice law as an attorney and 
 
B. PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE: The CA shall maintain professional liability insurance covering acts, errors, 
mistakes, and omissions arising out of the work or services performed by the CA, or any person employed by the CA, with a limit of not less than $500,000 each claim, $1,000,000 aggregate. The above limits for professional liability insurance requirement shall become effective June 1, 2014. Until that time a CA in order to practice as an attorney in the Collaborative Process shall maintain professional liability insurance covering acts, errors, mistakes, and omissions arising out of the work or services performed by the CA, or any person employed by the CA.
 
 

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR COLLABORATIVE FAMILY LAW COACH/FACILITATOR AND CHILD SPECIALIST (“CFCF/CS”):

The following represent Professional Standards in order to practice as a CFCF/CS in the Collaborative process within the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council:
 
A. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: In Family Law cases, a CFCF/CS is a licensed mental health professional 
in good standing in one of the following: 
  • Licensed Independent Clinical Social Work (LICSW) 
  • Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) 
  • Licensed and Board Certified Psychiatrist 
  • Licensed Clinical Psychologists (Ed.D., Ph.D., Psy. D.)
  • Licensed Masters level Psychiatric Nurses
  • Licensed Mental Health Counselors
B. TRAINING: The CFCF/CS should also have clinical training and experience in individual, couples and family therapy with supervision, along with group theory and practice. Additionally, the CFCF/CS should be trained in diagnostic assessment, child development, family systems, parenting issues, the psychological effects of divorce, domestic violence, substance abuse, confidentiality and related ethical issues, as well as emergency psychiatric care. 
 
C. PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE: The CFCF/CS shall maintain professional liability insurance covering acts, 
errors, mistakes, and omissions arising out of the work or services performed by the CFCF/CS, or any person employed by the CFCF/CS, with a limit of not less than $1,000,000 each claim, $1,000,000 aggregate.The above limits for professional liability insurance requirement shall become effective June 1, 2014. Until that time a CFCF/CS in order to 
practice as a CFCF/CS in the Collaborative Process shall maintain professional liability insurance covering acts, errors, mistakes, and omissions arising out of the work or services performed by the CFCF/CS, or any person employed by the CFCF/CS.
 
 

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR COLLABORATIVE CIVIL COACHFACILITATORS (“CCCF”):

The role and use of the CCCF is currently emerging in civil disputes. Notwithstanding the current fluidity of this role, the following represent Professional Standards for CCCF within the Massachusetts Collaborative Law
Council: 
 
A. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Basic mediation training of at least 30 hours and
  • Certified graduate of an International Coach Federation Accredited Coach Training Program (ACTP) or comparable business coaching experience
B. TRAINING: The CCCF may also have ongoing trainings and skills in related areas, such as Non-Violent Communication, Emotional Intelligence, systems training, facilitation training and negotiation training.
 
C. PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE: The CCCF shall maintain professional liability insurance covering acts, 
errors, mistakes, and omissions arising out of the work or services performed by the CCCF, or any person employed by the CCCF, with a limit of not less than $1,000,000 each claim, $1,000,000 aggregate.The above limits for professional liability insurance requirement shall become effective June 1, 2014. Until that time a CCCF in order to practice as a CCCF in the Collaborative Process shall maintain professional liability insurance covering acts, errors, mistakes, and omissions arising out of the work or services performed by the CCCF, or any person employed by the CCCF.
 
 

PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS FOR COLLABORATIVE FINANCIAL NEUTRAL (“CFN”):

The following represent Professional Standards for CFN within the Massachusetts Collaborative Law Council, in order to practice as a CFN in the Collaborative process:
 
A. PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: In order to be able to assist clients with the wide range of financial 
implications of divorce, the CFN must have a good understanding of the financial planning process, as well as the implications associated with various financial decisions involved in the divorce process. The CFN must 
therefore hold one of the three following designations and be currently licensed in good standing:
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
  • Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
  • Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC)
B. PRACTICE IN FAMILY LAW: For practice as a family law CFN, the practitioner must also demonstrate competence in addressing financial issues specific to couples in divorce through the acquisition of training such as can be obtained through the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) program or through the Certified Financial Divorce Practitioner (CFDP) program.
 
C. PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY INSURANCE: The CFN shall maintain professional liability insurance covering acts, errors, mistakes, and omissions arising out of the work or services performed by the CFN, or any person employed by the CFN, with a limit of not less than $1,000,000 each claim, $1,000,000 aggregate.The above limits for professional liability insurance requirement shall become effective June 1, 2014. Until that time a CFN in order to practice as a CFN in the Collaborative Process shall maintain professional liability insurance covering acts, errors, mistakes, and omissions arising out of the work or services performed by the CFN, or any person employed by the CFN.
 

To determine if a MCLC member is qualified as a Core Team Member look at the bottom of their profiles located in our directory:

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Profession(s): Family Law Attorney, Mediator
Northampton
413-586-8651